Parkinson’s Awareness Day 2018

This week is Parkinson’s Awareness week. Millions of people are living with Parkinson’s but unless you are directly involved not a lot of people know much about it.

What is Parkinson’s

“Parkinson’s disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in part of the brain. This leads to a reduction of a chemical called dopamine. This chemical plays a vital role in regulating the movement of the body.” This usually results in a tremor or shaking which usually starts in the hand or arm when the limb is relaxed or resting.

How can Pilates help?

A regular Pilates routine may help maintain independence, improve posture, balance and movement. It can also help reduce feelings of stress, anxiety and depression. Recent research has shown that exercise seems to protect the dopamine-producing nerve cells that are lost in Parkinson’s, helping them work better and survive for longer.

Pilates can help strengthen muscles helping everyday activities and keeping joints flexible, relieving the effects of rigidity. Balance exercises and preventing or managing falls, is an important part of Pilates can help with maintaining walking .

How Pilate’s has helped my client

Pat has been doing Pilates with me for 6 years now. Nine years ago she was widowed and to keep herself busy she would do various exercise classes and lot’s of rambling.

Before Pat was diagnosed two years ago she had started walking with a limp. Developed a tremor in her right arm finding writing difficult she also noticed her balance wasn’t as good.

Since her diagnosed the impact on her life at the moment is her balance, flexibility and fluidity of movement which use to be excellent. Swallowing sometimes is difficult and extreme fatigue which can’t be diminished by rest or sleep!

But each week Pat comes to Pilates. She knows what she can do and doesn’t over do it too often! Pilate’s is important to Pat as it keeps her core strong and “hopefully keep me upright for longer!”

Although Pat only comes to a class once a week she does practice a few times a week at home to help loosen up stiff joints and muscles. It help’s improve her mobility, reducing stress and anxiety/depression. The Pilates moves Pat regularly does to keep her spine supple are Shoulder bridge and anything to mobilise the spine.

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